In the decade before the 2012 midterm congressional elections, only one of California's 53 congressional seats changed party hands, despite elections every other year in a state with rapidly shifting demographics.

Democrats picked up five additional seats that year and this year, at least five districts are in play.

It comes after the state's independent redistricting commission redrew the district lines in 2012, shaking up the status quo. As the nation's largest delegation, California's changes play a role in the makeup of Congress.

Voters created the 14-member panel of average Californians.

Tony Quinn is co-editor of the California Target Book, which analyzes races. He says after the redrawing, voters really had choices in 2012. He says the districts are better because they better resemble the people who live in them.